🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Concerns. 'Major setback' for England after Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue. The English seamer increased the injury concerns plaguing England when he left the playing area early on day two of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. The pace bowler felt a problem in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over at the MCG. The England team reported Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time off the field for further assessment "over the next few hours". The series decider in this Ashes battle in Sydney begins at the end of the week. The English side has previously lost fast bowlers one seamer with a knee problem and Jofra Archer because of a side injury during this series. Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled early in the series, taking just a handful of scalps. He was left out for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the fourth Test as Archer's replacement. The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 with the bat being one of only three England players who passed ten runs. Post a single over late on the first day, he resumed for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper. Unfortunately, on the final ball of that over, he sent down a change of pace to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed at his leg. The English bowler was recalled for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the previous Test.